Helping ambitious women in technology get career success without burnout

29th September 2015

How often do you stand up for what you believe in?

On 7 July 2015, I received the regular monthly mailing from NCT. This mailing was different. This mailing started a chain of events. This mailing invited members to stand for trustee.

It’s something I’d thought about in the past so I emailed an NCT friend “I’m thinking of putting myself forward for Trustee … as a former Trustee, how much work is involved?” I was concerned that I would over-commit myself given how much volunteering I already do with my breastfeeding counsellor and run leader hats; I was worried that I would over-extend myself and take too much time away from my family and my business.

My friend told me what I needed to know … and at the end of the email, she wrote the “doorknob” comment. You know, the comment or disclosure that people make just as they’re leaving the room. She wrote “Or do you fancy president?” Claire knows that I am passionate about NCT – and that despite no longer being an active member of the London Region volunteer team or my branch volunteer team, I continue to help out at Nearly New Sales, write articles for my branch newsletter or spend the day as event photographer at branch or regional events. What Claire maybe didn’t know (or did she?) is that NCT President is a role I had always wanted. BUT …..

A huge time commitment

But I knew it would be a huge time commitment and a big responsibility. Once the seed was sown, there was no turning back. I talked it through with my husband who cautioned me to think carefully because he knows how much I love the work I do with my clients and how hard I have worked in recent months.

I found two people willing to propose and second my nomination (that was the easy part); wrote my statement … and waited. I heard that there was one other candidate and I was itching to find out who. In early August, I recorded my video statement. Then I found out who the other candidate was. Oh she’s good. Instinctively I knew that NCT would be in a fantastic position no matter who won.

And that’s how it came to be that on Saturday I was at babble live! shaking like a leaf – nervous and excited to hear the results of the NCT President elections. The irony is … I already knew the result. I was staffing the NCT stand at the ATP Tongue Tie conference on Monday when I heard the news. I couldn’t understand why I was so nervous. I guess it was the excitement. And the expectations of others who didn’t know the results.

I am proud of the campaign that I ran. I would have been brilliant as NCT President but I know that Seana Talbot will be too. I know she’ll work hard for the charity. We have different experiences and skillsets but she’s equally as passionate, so I am thrilled. It’s easy to be gracious in defeat when your opponent is so highly respected.

What is really important to me though, is that I stood up for what I believe in. I took action. I raised my head above the parapet.

What about you? How often do you stand up for what you believe in? What will you do today, it doesn’t matter whether it’s big or small, to stand up for what you believe in?